U.S. patent application number 11/108935 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for light-emitting game controller.
Invention is credited to Rocky Wang.
Application Number | 20060079328 11/108935 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36146059 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060079328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Rocky |
April 13, 2006 |
Light-emitting game controller
Abstract
A game controller, which is used in conjunction with a game
device, includes a housing, a light-emitting device provided within
the housing for producing flashing light of varying intensity, and
a circuitry provided within the housing and generating control
signals in response to signals received from the game device to
control the intensity and the flashing frequency of the light
emitted by the light-emitting device.
Inventors: |
Wang; Rocky; (Chung-Ho City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG
745 FIFTH AVENUE- 10TH FL.
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
36146059 |
Appl. No.: |
11/108935 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/06 20130101;
A63F 13/28 20140902; A63F 13/24 20140902 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/037 |
International
Class: |
A63F 13/00 20060101
A63F013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2004 |
TW |
093216150 |
Claims
1. A game controller adapted for use with a game device,
comprising: a housing; a light-emitting device provided within said
housing for producing flashing light of varying intensity; and a
circuitry provided within said housing and generating control
signals in response to signals received from the game device to
control the intensity and the flashing frequency of the light
emitted by said light-emitting device.
2. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry
further generates output signals to the game device in response to
a user input.
3. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein said housing
has at least one transparent part for passage of the light emitted
by said light-emitting device.
4. The game controller according to claim 3, wherein the game
controller is configured as a joystick, and said housing includes
an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall interconnecting said
upper and lower walls, said upper wall including a substantially
triangular opaque part adjacent to said side wall, said transparent
part being provided along the perimeter of said substantially
triangular opaque part.
5. The game controller according to claim 4, wherein said side wall
includes a lateral transparent part adjacent to said lower wall for
passage of the light emitted by said light-emitting device.
6. The game controller according to claim 5, wherein said
light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting
elements located at positions corresponding to said lateral
transparent part of said side wall and said transparent part of
said upper wall.
7. The game controller according to claim 3, wherein the game
controller is configured as a mouse, and said housing has a lower
housing half, and an upper housing half having said transparent
part.
8. The game controller according to claim 3, wherein the game
controller is configured as a keyboard, and said housing has a
lower side, an upper side, and a lateral side extending between
said lower and upper sides, said transparent part being provided at
said lateral side.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Taiwanese Utility
Application No. 93216150, filed on Oct. 12, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a light-emitting game controller
and more particularly to a light-emitting game controller, which
emits light with different flashing frequencies and intensities
according to signals from a game device, so as to provide more
stunning and dynamic visual effects in the virtual environment when
playing games.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Games are generally classified as games executed in
computers, games executed in portable (or hand-held) game machines,
and games executed in video game machines. No matter what devices
are used for playing games, game controllers are indispensable
elements in these devices. It is known in the art that some game
controllers are provided therein with vibration devices for
vibrating the controllers according to signals received from
computers or game machines. By such an arrangement, the vibration
of the controllers matches the scenario and the audio effects of
the game being played by users, thereby increasing realism when
playing games. However, there is still a need for a game controller
provided with a light-emitting device for producing light with
varying intensity and flashing frequency to match the scenario of
the game being played by users, thereby resulting in stunning video
effects when playing games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a game controller with a light-emitting device for producing light
of varying intensity and flashing frequency to match the contents
or scenario of the game being played by users, thereby resulting in
enhanced video effects when playing games.
[0007] According to the present invention, a game controller is to
be used in conjunction with a game device, and comprises a housing,
a light-emitting device provided within the housing for producing
flashing light of varying intensity, and a circuitry provided
within the housing and generating control signals in response to
signals received from the game device to control the intensity and
the flashing frequency of the light emitted by the light-emitting
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the game
controller embodying this invention, in together with a game
device;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an example of the game
controller which is configured as a joystick;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of the game controller of
FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another
example of the game controller which is configured as a keyboard;
and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of still
another example of the game controller which is configured as a
mouse.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, a game controller (A) embodying the
present invention is used with a game device 7, such as computers
or video game machines. The game controller (A) comprises a housing
(1A), a light-emitting device 2 provided within the housing (1A)
and a circuitry 3 provided within the housing (1A) to control the
light-emitting device 2 in terms of flashing frequency and
intensity of light. When a game is played using the game controller
(A) connected to the game device 7, the circuitry 3 of the game
controller (A) generates output signals to the game device 7 in
response to a user input. The game device 7, which comprises a
microprocessor, executes a game program contained therein according
to the output signals from the game controller (A) and is connected
to the display unit 8 for showing the virtual scenario of the game.
When the virtual scenario of the game requires light-flashing or
changes in the intensity of light to enhance the virtual
environment, the game device 7 generates a feedback signal. Then,
in response to the feedback signal, the circuitry 3 generates
control signals to control the intensity and the flashing frequency
of light emitted by the light-emitting device 2.
[0016] According to this invention, the game controller (A) may be
configured as a joystick, a keyboard or a mouse.
[0017] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a joystick 1 incorporating the present
invention, which includes a housing 10 composed an opaque upper
wall 13, a lower wall 14 and a side wall 15 interconnecting the
upper wall 13 and the lower wall 14. The upper wall 13 includes a
substantially triangular opaque part 120 at the center portion 100
thereof and adjacent to the side wall 15 at the front of the
housing 10. A transparent part 12 is provided along the perimeter
of the substantially triangular opaque part 120. The side wall 15
at the front of the housing 10 includes a plurality of lateral
transparent parts 11 adjacent to the lower wall 14 for passage of
the light emitted by the light-emitting device 2.
[0018] The light-emitting device 2 includes a plurality of
light-emitting elements 20 located at positions corresponding to
the positions of the transparent parts 11 of the side wall 15 and
the transparent part 12 of the upper wall 13, whereby the light
emitted from the light-emitting elements 20 passes through the
transparent parts 11 of the side wall 15 and the transparent part
12 of the upper wall 13.
[0019] The light-emitting elements 20 preferably are LEDs. More
preferably, each LED is capable of changing the color of the light
emitted therefrom. Alternatively, a plurality of LEDs each emitting
light of a different color may be used, so as to generate colorful
light from the light-emitting device 2. The circuitry 3 (shown in
dotted line) is provided within the housing 10 and is connected to
the light-emitting elements 20 so as to control not only the
flashing frequency and intensity of the light but also the color of
the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 20, according to
the scenario of the game.
[0020] When it is intended to execute educational programs for
teaching children or to train children to implement computer
programs, the game controller (A) of this invention may be
configured as a mouse or a keyboard. Referring to FIG. 4, there is
shown a keyboard 4 which includes a housing 40 formed of an upper
housing half 41 and a lower housing half 42 so that the housing 40
has a lower side 420, an upper side 410, and a lateral side 430
extending between the lower side 420 and the upper side 410. A
transparent part 43 is provided at the lateral side 430. The
circuitry 3' is provided within the housing 40. The light emitting
elements 20, such as LEDs, are received in the housing 40, and are
connected to the circuitry 3' adjacent to the transparent part 43
so that the light emitted therefrom passes through the transparent
part 43 of the housing 40.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 5, a mouse 5 is shown to include a housing
50 which has a lower housing half 51 and an upper housing half 52
with a transparent part 53. The circuitry 3'' is provided within
the lower housing half 51. The light-emitting element 20, such as
an LED, is provided within the housing 50 under the transparent
part 53 of the upper housing half 52 so as to allow the passage of
the light emitted therefrom through the transparent part 53 of the
housing 50.
[0022] The upper housing half 52 may be entirely transparent, and
the lower housing half 51 may also be entirely transparent, so as
to allow the passage of the light from the light emitting element
20 through the upper and lower housing halves 52 and 51.
[0023] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *